Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Saints fans hate him because they cared for him but although Saints fans did have affection for him, the reason he is hated is far different.

Mauricio Pochettino has been telling the press that the reason that he receives a hate filled welcome when he returns to St Mary's is because Saints fans loved him so when he was at that the club and that he takes that abuse as a compliment.

"For me it was difficult, it's true,"

"The first day, I remember my first game back there, they prepared the orange day to try to upset me.

"But in the same way they showed their love for me because if they ignore me it's because they never cared for me.

"But if they want to show their love for another manager it was because it was hard for them."

"Always you have to respect the supporters and they were not happy that first I moved here and then Toby and now Victor," Pochettino said.

"But I think we need to show full respect to the club and our former fans but it is normal when the people love you and you take a decision that is not for them, it's normal that they are a little bit upset about the decision. You can respect that.

"For different situations, we had to split our way. But always my feelings and my memories will be good in my mind."

It seems that our former manager has a very high opinion of his standing amongst Saints supporters when he was at the club, of course he did well when he was at St Mary's and took it to a top 8 finish in his only full season here, but he was never loved by the fans who found his attitude and refusal to speak English in press conferences baffling, the feeling was that he never really had true affection for the club and the fans found it hard to warm to him as a person, indeed he rarely did anything other than token gestures that showed he cared for the supporters.

Many Saints fans felt that his character was one of being very underhand and shady, that he had his own interests at heart rather than Saints and when he left for Spurs that it was something that had been in the pipeline for several months rather than a surprise snap decision.

In contrast Ronald Koeman was loved in his two years, Pochettino is way off the mark if he thinks the Orange Day was to try and upset him, quite the opposite it was to show love for Ronald Koeman who was truly respected, everything that Pochettino thinks Saints fans felt for him is actually what they feel for Koeman, a man who did love the club and the fans who was open and affectionate towards the club and fans, but who ultimately was enticed away when Everton found their price.

When Pochettino left we were not hurt because we were not surprised, the rumours about his joining Spurs had been around for months, we almost expected him to betray us, we were insulted not hurt which is two different things entirely. We had forgotten and moved on from Pochettino within weeks of his leaving

With Koeman is was hurt and to the bone, we still feel that hurt now, yes everything Pochettinno thinks about why the Saints fans hate him is true, but it concerns Koeman not the Argentinian.

When Pochettino joined Saints he had been out of work for several months, in Spain his reputation was that of a manager who was a perennial relegation fighter, he was not being courted by bigger clubs than his former employer Espanyol, at St Mary's he was handed the tools to move things on in his own career, something he did well but not brilliantly in terms of what he achieved for Saints.

On reflection with so many of his side now at Liverpool, Manchester United or Spurs, the feeling is that Saints should perhaps have done better in that one full season, certainly Ronald Koeman with a team that initially looked weaker than the one that Pochettino had, did much better.

We hate Pochettino not because we loved him, but because of the lack of respect he showed us as a club and as fans bot whilst he was here and after he left, but we will never feel the same pain as when Koeman left us, the hurt long ago ceased with Pochettino whilst with Koeman it will be there for years.

The reason for that is under the Dutchman we felt that we had a manager capable of taking us places and perhaps becoming one of the greatest managers the club has ever had, we never felt that Pochettino wanted to stay a minute longer than he had to, but we never felt that he would take us any higher than the 8th he managed, whereas with Koeman we thought he could take us much higher and he did !

Photo: Action Images

A1079 added 09:59 - Dec 28 To be honest, I find all this hating stuff pretty nauseous and largely pointless. Usually it backfires on us when we spend most of the game targeting ex managers or ex players and lets be honest, the fact that a majority of players and managers have left is because of our own strategy as much as any personal greed etc. I was angry with Pochettino when he first up'd and left, not least because he only managed one season and it was fairly clear that once Cortese went he would shortly follow. It also seemed to spark an exodus of our best players at that time. But, I have to say, for me, Pochettino is a good quality manager. His football is largely attractive and he seems to mix experience with youth well. His blind spot seems to be cup competitions, but he is hardly alone in that these days. I have nothing against Pochettino now. I want us to win obviously, but I always want us to win, whoever we are playing. For some illogical reason, which I have never been sure why, I have always had an antipathy towards Spurs as a club but that goes back decades and has nothing to do with their current manager. I just dislike them as a club and their supporters grate somewhat, but equally, they have largely played entertaining football and have had some great players play for them. Not bothered who is in the opposite dug-out tonight, I just want us to win.

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perazi added 10:00 - Dec 28 If you take a look at MP's pre-game interview he is glowing in his praise for SFC, players and supporters. He also speaks of being happy at J-Rod's return to form and how he's looking forward to seeing many "old friends". I think Koeman showed supporters far less respect than Pochettino. At least MP never strongly committed himself to a continuing stay at St Marys - Koeman did. I also think MP will go further in the game as a Manager than Koeman.

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GeordieSaint added 10:20 - Dec 28 Que?
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helpineedsomebody added 11:16 - Dec 28 The 1st day he started here he said no nc end of project For me he is a very good manager but now we have a very clever manager
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stmichael added 11:21 - Dec 28 I am very fond of Poch and think he was the catalyst for our success. He always speaks highly of us and is a decent bloke keeping in touch with his former players who clearly like and respect him. He was Cortese's man and when he left it was difficult for Poch to stay. We are not ambitious enough for the top managers in the game and when he and RK realized that they were on their way. Both are fond of the club and their time here. For me I think Poch is the better manager and in time I thin k I will remember Poch more fondly than RK who stabbed us in the back in a greater way than the Argentine.

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Rednose added 12:35 - Dec 28 Great post Nick, provokes opinion. Mine I'm afraid is a bit more cold, simply for both of them it was a job, stepping stone. More money and a better chance to get to the higher level before they're found out was the driver for both of them to leave. Only the fans love our club, we're not bought we're born. With a varying opinion at different sides of the scale sometimes, but we all love Southampton FC. Only a few of the great Players and Managers we have had here live and breath our club once they stop working for it. Ted Bates and Matt LeTiss to name two (past and present) I know there are a few more, but for brevity just naming these two. For me love or affection shouldn't be shown to or expected by Players & Managers until its deserved, not for just do their job. RK or Poch didn't need to go, Lallana did, but did it wrong. Lambert didn't but I think we would all agree that to play for the team you supported from childhood he had to, but respect we knew he loved to be here. Claude Puel however hard to take to I agree, but for me looks like he's thinking all the time to make things better and approve on. We're currently 8th possible 7th (after tonight), he's using the academy (our own), but as yet we don't seem to be getting behind him like the last two at this stage. I'm hoping that this guy gets the love soon because I'm sure he's a winner and will have a greater respect for the Club and us Supporters, when others come knocking. Happy New Year everyone.

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bstokesaint added 12:43 - Dec 28 I have zero love for Pochettino. I don't hate him either, but his lack of respect for the club shown in that non-speaking English media circus made us look pretty stupid! The fact he was so quick to use us to jump ship tells you all you need to know too. Like others have said he was Cortese's man and pledged no loyalties to us, but if all the rumours about the behind-the-scenes stuff is true, he only cared about a niche bunch of players and there was a mass exodus around his departure. I've no doubt he had something to do with the advising of those players. I'm not sure who the better coach is between Pochettino and Koeman, although I always felt Mauricio had no plan B, which was exasperating to watch sometimes. To be totally honest though I'm not sure I care any more. As long as we continue to make progress, these guys were just old cogs in an ever-improving machine.

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abingdonsaint added 13:30 - Dec 28 Bit of a sweeping generalisation Nick, and as a longstanding admirer of Poch, I agree broadly with the earlier comments. I was far more disappointed when Poch left than Koeman, because in my view he fundamentally changed the attitude of the club from being underdogs to the most upwardly mobile in the league. He never talked us down, as Koeman did on occasions (and still does!) and instilled an aggressive style of play which I enjoyed. He was also far more in keeping with our 'philosophy' in terms of youth development, which RK paid lip service to, but was never convinced by. Poch was very much Cortese's man, so once he went the writing was on the wall. However, he has never had anything but praise for us, and the players clearly loved playing for him, which again, judging from Mane's snubbed handshake last week as an example, couldn't always be said for RK! Don't get me wrong, Koeman did a decent job, and was the right man at the time, but not sure he was ever a perfect fit long term. I'm still convinced he had no real desire to go to Everton, but when he used their interest to renegotiate his terms with us, the board had similar reservations and didn't put up too much of a fight. For what it's worth, I like Puel, and he's our manager now so let's get behind him and forget about what's gone on before. Onwards and upwards!

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steve73 added 14:06 - Dec 28 I must admit I like him; he conducts himself very well these days, says the right things, is respectful and, of course, is a damn good manager. Some people have more of a reason to hate him than I do, I just think he did a good job here and then moved on. This site keeps telling us that's the model that's made us so successful in recent years so I think it's a bit contrary to single him out for doing something we see literally all the time down here.

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saintsnutcase added 14:18 - Dec 28 Personally I liked Poch more than I ever liked Koeman, who is an arrogant pain in the neck. But I think Puel fits our needs better than either of them.
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sidsaint added 07:54 - Dec 29 Poch introduced new training methods to us which were very beneficial. The pressing system was not very prominent in English football until he arrived. He was good for us until he, like RK, found that we lacked real ambition. We have been lucky to have had 2 such good managers. The shame is we have not been able to keep them. I like Puel who is doing his best. I hope we will support him so that he stays.

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darthvader added 01:52 - Dec 31 Phuuck him .. No joking . I used to hate him for leaving to go to spurs .(of all teams) Not so much now I just hate spurs
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